Building a 1911 9mm Commander

prproulx

prproulx

I ask too many questions
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Location
The Blue Part of Ontario
I am toying with the idea of slowly building one out of quality parts. What I really mean is I will gradually get the parts in and send a bag of parts to a gunsmith to build me a gun. I know my limitations.:D
I know at some point I will have to pay for the importation of a frame.
I am looking at Essex Arms, basic Commander frame listed in Brownells.
Is this quality stuff?
I'm thinking of trying to get a Fusion slide, Nowlin barrel/bushing assembly and slowly accumilating all the other internals.
 
prproulx said:
So Essex is crap compared to Colt?

Yes I am quite insane. I buy something, shoot it for a while and get bored.

And it's on to the next thing.:runaway:
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Essex was popular when it was pretty much the only game in town, but it seems like Caspian is the top pick for relatively inexpensive (cast) frames these days.
 
Question #2, if I can get a good deal on a full size frame can a gunsmith cut the dustcover back?
Is there any other difference between the Commander and Government frame that I should know about?
I know the extractor and ejector are different.
 
prproulx said:
So Essex is crap compared to Colt?

Yes I am quite insane. I buy something, shoot it for a while and get bored.

And it's on to the next thing.:runaway:
Click to expand...

No, I didn't mean it that way. Just found it ironic that you had the 9mm Commander seemingly so sought after on the EE here in the Colt. Probably just needed some minor tweaking to be a 100% reliable.

Essex has been around a long time. Been the basis for many custom 1911's as well as replacement frames for other mainstream ones that needed it for one reason or another. Probably would work fine for a 9mm commander project. It's just not Colt, though... :(

Anyway, hope it all works out for ya where ever you go with the project... ;)
 
I would look at the frames available from STI through Freedom Ventures, much easier to deal with a vendor in Canada IMHO. Sean is also a CGN Supporter so thats always good too.
 
Get a Norinco Commander frame and do her up. The frames are great quality. Before the States put a ban on importing chinese products, Wilson Combat as well as many other 1911 manufacturers used to get their frames from them. You can build a monster commander with a Norinco frame. If its a gun that your building for yourself then all the more reason. The only downside is getting a few comments from snotty shooters that think Colt is the only frame a 1911 should be built on, and so far, everyone I have met that has knocked Norinco Frames are from people who have never shot one. For the price you would pay for only a lower frame elsewhere, you can buy the full pistol and shoot it while you upgrade it.

Just to prove it can be done, here's a few pics of my Norc NP-29 (Government lenght ) courtesy of Gunnar of course :D Too many upgrades to mention, but the point is that you can build a top of the line 1911 using a Norinco Frame which is forged Steel that in my opinion is much better then these light alloy frames swarming the 1911 market.

Just my 2 cents :) Someone had to mention it...

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Pictures just don't do her justice. My next 1911 project will be again wil a Norc frame ( Commander ) and try and re-create an Ed Brown Kobra Carry Bobtail :stirthepot2:
 
beltfed said:
Did you ever try an Avetec on your commander?
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No. I thought it was too much money, but now I think I will use one for this project.
:redface:

The reason I'm doing this is to learn to work on 1911's on a deeper basis than field stripping. I want it to look traditional, no BT safety, barrel/bushing non-ramped etc.
I will think about all these suggestions. Norinco, eh? Is it time to go Asian?
 
The aftec is alot of money, but worth it imho.

After putting one in my 9mm Commander (now Westicle's) I swear I'll replace any extractors that need it with one. They are the sh!t:)
 
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